Structure for folding carton

ABSTRACT

Embossments in a folding carton blank near the edge at each side of the glue lap or side panel to which the gluing panel is connected, on the face of the glue lap or side panel, opposite the face whereon glue is applied, prevent the over-run of glue at each side of the glue lap from contacting the reverse face of the side panel which is contiguous with the gluing panel and the subsequent sealing of the non-glued face of the glue lap to such side panel when the sealing operation is completed.

I 1 Y Umted States Patent 1 [111 3,744,708 Gardner et al. 2 July 10,1973 [54] STRUCTURE FOR FOLDING CARTON 3,3l-5;870 4/1967 Barnes 229/37 R75 Inventors Selby A Gardner Robert J 5 313 322 3:32; fiuckhenbecke"533/135 I v ar s f 'sm both of lndlanapollsr 2,501,852 3/1950 Ringler229 37 R [73] Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, PrimaryExaminer-George E. Lowrance Ind. Assistant Examiner-Stephen Marcus [22]Filed g 10 1971 Att0rney-Everet F. Smith and Ralph W, Ernsberger [21]Appl. No.: 170,567 [57] ABSTRACT Embossments in a folding carton blanknear the edge 'i 229/48 229/37 Z at each side of the glue lap or sidepanel to which the [58] Fie'ld R 48 SA gluing panel is connected, on theface of the glue lap 229/48 SB 41 R 41 37 or side panel, opposite theface whereon glue is ap- 5 plied, prevent the over-run of glue at eachside of the glue lap from contacting the reverse face of the side e lwhich is contiguous with the gluing panel and the [56] References CitedPane subsequent sealing of the non-glued face of the glue lap UNITEDSTATES PATENTS to such side panel when the sealing operation is com-2,521,208 9/1950 Eaton 229/5.5 leted, 2,259,822 10/1941 Kienlen 229/48 Rp 2,317,773 4/1943 Kavanaugh 229/51 WB 16 Claims, 10 Drawing FiguresPATENIEUJUL 1 0 I973 FIG.5

1 STRUCTURE FOR FOLDING CARTON BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention This invention relates to folding cartons. Moreparticularly, it relates to an improvement to the structure of foldingcartons which prevents undesired sealing of the glue lap to the sidepanel contiguous with the gluing panel thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art Folding cartons have been in use ascontainers for a long time. One of many variations of such foldingcartons comprises a die-cut sheet which is glued together to form acontainer having three or more sides. Typically, the die-cut sheet iscomprised of a glue lap, to which glue is machine applied, and three ormore side panels. The sealing of the folded carton is generallyaccomplished by utilizing mechanical means to bring the adhesive ladenglue lap into contact with one of the side panels in a pre-plannedposition. Pressure is usually applied to the contacting surfaces to aidin the seal ing operation. Various designs have been in use wherein theglue lap issealed to either the inside or the outside of one of the sidepanels of the carton. Esthetically, it is preferred that the glue lapshould be attached to the inside of one of the side panels.

Generally, the carton is designed so that it can be stored flat in aknocked-down configuration to save space. When it is desired to open upthe carton to receive the goods which are to be placed therein, amechanical means is employed to do this operation. At this point theopened-up carton has a configuration such that three or more sidesconfine a space, and one or more sides are open to receive the goods.The usual practice is to mechanically close one or more of the remainingopen sides, such as the bottom or the top of the carton, leaving oneside open to accept the contents. Alternatively, the carton can be leftopen on one or more sides and the goods placed therein with nosubsequent closure of the open side(s). In the latter case the cartoncan be said to serve as a sleeve or over-wrap.

In any event, in the sealing operation wherein a gluing means applies anadhesive to the glue face of the glue lap, there is an over-run ofadhesive at the edges of both sides of the glue lap where theapplication of the glue starts and finishes, deposited thereat by thegluing means as the latter traverses the glue lap. Then in the course ofsealing the glue lap to the gluing panel, the over-run of adhesive fromthe glue application can contact a side panel which is not intended tobe sealed to the glue lap and result in the attachment of thereverse'face of the glue lap to the side panel so contacted.

When the sealing operation is carried out in a manner which leaves theglue-sealed carton in a knocked-down compact form, the inadvertentattachment described above goes undetected, the glue sets up, and theunwanted attachment of the reverse face of the glue lap to one of theside panels produces a knocked-down carton that cannot be opened up bymechanical means designed to perform that function. As a consequence,the packaging operation is interrupted and slowed down as defectivecartons are identified and opened up by other means.

This problem has been partially solved by chamfering the sides of theglue lap from about to about 30. A chamfer is frequently employed toalleviate this condition. However, chamfering the sides does not providea satisfactory solution to the inadvertent attachment, and more reliablemeans have been sought to solve this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIO It has now been discovered that embossments nearthe edge at each side of the glue lap or side panel to which the gluingpanel is connected, on the face of the glue lap or side panel oppositethe face whereon the over-run of adhesive is deposited, prevent thenonglued face of the glue lap from contacting the side panel to which noglue lap attachment is intended. The undesired sealing of the non-gluedface of the glue lap to a side panel is thus eliminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top plan view of thereverse face of a carton glue lap connected to a carton side panel.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the glue face of a carton glue lapconnected to a carton side panel.

FIG. 3 is an end view of a carton glue lap.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a carton folded into a positionsimulating the relation of the glue lap and the gluing panel immediatelypreceeding the sealing operation.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a carton showing the position of theglue lap, gluing panel, and side panel connected to the gluing panelafter the sealing operation is completed showing the knocked-downconfiguration.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a modified embodiment of FIG. 1 showing thereverse face of a side panel connected to the gluing panel.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a modified embodiment of FIG. 2 showing theglue face of a side panel connected to the gluing panel.

FIG. 8 is an end view of a modified embodiment of FIG. 3 showing thegluing panel connected to the side panel.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a modified embodiment of FIG. 4showing a carton folded into a position simulating the relation of theglue lap, gluing panel, and side panel connected to the gluing panelimmediately preceding the sealing operation.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a modified version of FIG. 5showing the position of the glue lap, gluing panel, and side panelconnected to the gluing panel fter the sealing operation is completedshowing the knocked-down configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In this specification, theterms indicated below have the following definitions:

The term folding carton blank" means the flat diecut, or die-formed,material which, when folded in a pre-designed fashion takes the'shape ofthe finished container.

The term carton glue lap means that portion of a carton blank which isspecifically designed to be sealed to one of the side panels of thecarton to provide for a container having three or more sides confining aspace.

The term carton side panel means any one of the panels which arespecifically designed in the carton blank to be one of the three or moresides of the container which confines the space.

The term gluing panel means that panel of the carton blank which isspecifically designed to be sealed to the glue lap to provide for acontainer having three or more sides confining a space.

The term side panel connected to the gluing panel means that panel ofthe carton blank which is immediately contiguous with and connected tothe gluing panel, whether there has been a partial severance by a cutcrease or a line of demarcation identifiable only by a crimp crease.

The term glue face means that face of the glue lap, and the carton sidepanels contiguous therewith, to which the application of glue is madeprior to the sealing operation.

The term reverse face means that face of the glue lap, and the cartonside panels contiguous therewith, which is opposite to the glue face.

The term cut crease means that crease which has been die-cut in thecarton blank andhas resulted in a partial severing of the cartonmaterial to form a convenient point for creating a fold in thecontainer.

The term crimp crease means a crease that has been formed in the cartonblank by the application of pressure to one or both faces of the cartonblank resulting in an identifiable depression on one or both faces andserving as a place where a convenient fold can be made in the container.

The term length of the glue lap means the distance from the cut creaseor crimp crease which marks the beginning of the glue lap and theseparation of this part of the structure from the carton side panel towhich it is attached to the end of the glue lap.

The term vertical center line means the center line of the embossmentsand the corresponding debossments which is parallel to the cut crease orcrimp crease which marks the separation of a carton side panel and theglue lap.

The term horizontal center line of the embossments and the correspondingdebossments means the line which is parallel with the sides of the gluelap, and the carton side panels contiguous therewith.

The term elongated-obloid means a geometric form which has essentiallystraight sides and rounded ends, and may be many times as long as it iswide.

The term embossment means a raised protuberance from a flat surface.

The term debossment" means a depressed area in a flat surface, and inthe context of this specification is intended to be the opposite ofembossment.

The novel structure of this invention comprises the presence of anembossment at each side of the reverse face of the glue lap or,alternatively, at each side of the side panel connected to the gluingpanel in a position such that, when the reverse face of the glue lap isfolded against the reverse face of the side panel connected to thegluing panel, the embossments in the side panel will be beneath the thusfolded glue lap. The embossments thus placed serve the purpose ofpreventing the reverse face of the glue lap from contacting the reverseface of the side panel connected to the gluing panel during the sealingoperation after the glue has been applied to the glue lap. In theoperation during which glue is applied to the glue lap, there is anoverrun of glue at the beginning and the end of the application. Thisover-run of glue is sufficient to seal the edges of the glue lap to thereverse face of the side panel which is connected to the gluing panelwhen pressure is applied in the sealing operation: When this glue setsup, there is an attachment that is undesirable in that the mechanicalopening of the carton from its knockeddown configuration is prevented ata later time in automatic packaging equipment.

This problem is solved by the presence of the embossments as indicatedheretofore. The embossments hold the reverse face of the glue lap off ofthe reverse face of the side panel connected to the gluing panel duringthe sealing operation. Thus, the undesired sealing is prevented.

The structure of this invention can be more readily understood byreference to the drawing attached.

In FIG. 1 the novel structure of this invention is shown as embossments5 in the reverse face of a glue lap l. The embossments 5 are located sothat they are in about the vertical center line of glue lap l and occupyfrom about one-eighth to about one-half the length of glue lap,preferably about one-third of the length. The embossments 5 are set infrom the side of the glue lap a distance of from about 0.250 to about0.750 inch from the edge to the horizontal center line of theembossments 5, preferably about 0.375 to about 0.500 inch. While thesides 3 of the glue lap are shown in FIG. 1 as a straight extension ofthe carton side panel 2, it is preferable that each side of the glue lapshould be chamfered from about 5 to about 30 from a line extended fromthe edge of the carton side panel 2, and a 15 chamfer is more preferred.When the chamfer is present, the set-back of the embossment is measuredfrom the chamfered edge.

The dashed line shown as No. 6 in FIG. 1 depicts the relative positionof the cut crease which is present on the glue face side of the gluelap. While in this embodiment of the instant invention, the crease isshown as a cut crease in FIG. 2, there is no corresponding crimp on theface shown in FIG. 1, a crimp crease could be used to separate thecarton side panel from the carton glue lap as effectively as the cutcrease illustrated here. If a crimp crease were employed, then therewould be a visual line that would appear depressed on both faces of theglue lap.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the embossments asillustrated in FIG. 1 are produced in the reverse face of the glue lapby debossing the glue face of glue lap l as is illustrated in FIG. 2.Generally, folding cartons are manufactured by first die-cutting acarton blank from a section of material used for the fabrication. Thedie which is employed for this purpose, provides the necessary toolingto form and trim all of the sides, ends, laps, etc., and place thenecessary cut creases or crimp creases which will denote where the sidepanels are to be folded. In this die-cutting operation, it is arelatively simple matter to install bosses in the appropriate place inthe tooling to accomplish the debossing concurrently with thedie-cutting of the carton blank, and such will be understood by thoseskilled in the art. As the debossment is accomplished, there is producedsimultaneously a corresponding oppositely situated embossment. FIG. 2shows the glue face of the glue lap connected with the side panel 2.Number 8 in FIG. 2 shows the cut crease which separates the glue lap 1from the side panel 2. A cut crease is utilized to facilitate thebending of the glue lap. to accommodate the sealing operation. A cutcrease describes an incomplete cut; a severance of only a fraction ofthe thickness of the panel, and is generally die-cut to a depth of fromabout one-thirdto three-fifths of the thickness of the panel. A crimpcrease can be debossed in the panel to form the line of demarcationbetween the glue flap and the connecting side panel, but generally isemployed in fabricating corrugated cartons, whereas the cut crease isthe preferred means to establish a fold line in a paper board carton.

The embossments 5 are formed in the reverse face of the glue lap l bydebossing the glue face of the glue lap I which results insimultaneously formingcorresponding oppositely situated embossments 5.In FIG. 2, the debossments 7 are shown and are situated exactly oppositethe embossments 5 shown in FIG. I. The cut crease 8 is shown in FIG. 2marking the line which separates the glue lap 1 from the carton sidepanel 2. Number 9 in FIG. 2 illustrates the position of the strip ofglue which is applied to the glue lap in the sealing operation.

The end view of the glue lap 1 is shown in FIG. 3 and provides a detailof the embossments 5 and the corresponding oppositely situateddebossments 7. Debossments 7 are formed in the glue face of the glue lapl to produce simultaneously corresponding oppositely situ- 'atedembossments 5 wherein such embossments are raised above the flat surfaceof the reverse face of glue lap 1 from about 0.008 to about 0.012 inch.

In'FIG. 4, glue has been applied to the glue face of glue lap 1 andmechanical means have been employed to fold the glue lap loppositelyfrom the cut crease 8 so that the embossments 5 areapproaching a contact with the reverse face of the side panel 11connected to the gluing panel 10. The gluing panel 10, which is to besealed to the glue lap 1, is moved by mechanical means to a position asdepicted graphically in FIG. 4.

At about this point in the sealing operation, the assembly asillustrated in cross-section in FIG. 5 isconveyed by mechanical means toand under 'a pressure roller which presses side panel 10 against gluelap 1 transversely in the area of embossments 5 effecting a seal betweenthe glue face of glue lap 1 and gluing panel 10. The embossments 5prevent the side edges of glue lap 1 from contacting the reverse face ofside panel 11 connected to the gluing panel 10.

The sealing of a carton having a glue lap l as depicted in FIG. 1, 2 and3 and sealed as depicted in FIG. 4 and 5, is completed with the cartonin a knockeddown configuration, and because the glue lap l is preventedfrom contacting the reverse face of side panel 11 and becoming attachedthereto from the sealing of the glue deposited in the over-run on theedges of the side 3 of glue lap 1, the sealed carton can be consistentlyprocessed through mechanical carton opening ments 12 is located fromabout 0.250 to about 0.750

inch from the edge of the side panel 12, preferably about 0.500 inch.When the embossments are in the side panel as illustrated in FIG. 6,they have a long axis parallel to their horizontal center line and equalto about one-eighth to about one-half the length of the glue lap.

In FIG. 7, the side panel 11 is shown as being separated from the gluingpanel by a cut crease 15. Alternatively a crimp crease can be employedin place of the cut crease. The debossments 14 which are formed in theglue face of the side panel 11 are produced by the same means which wasdescribed above for the formation of the debossments and thecorresponding oppositely situated embossments in glue lap 1.

In FIG. 8, which corresponds with FIG. 3, the embossments 12 are shownprotruding above the flat surface of the side panel 11. As FIG. 8 is aview fromthe end 10 of the gluing panel 10 this illustration graphicallydepicts the similar character of the embossments whether they are in theside panel or in the glue lap.

The purpose is the same regardless of which location is utilized. I

The location of the embossments in the side panel and the way in whichthey relate to the other structural characteristics of the side paneland the carton glue lap, are depicted graphically in FIG. 6, 7 and 8. InFIG. 9 and 10, there is a graphical depiction of the manner in which theembossments formed in the side panel are utilized to accomplish thepurpose of keeping the glue lap from coming into contact with theside'panel connected to the gluing panel. This is accomplished in thesame fashion as was described above in detailingFIG.

4 and 5. In both situations the sealing operation proequipment withourwork stoppages to sort out defectively sealed cartons.

In another embodiment of this invention, theembossments are formed inthe side panel connected to the gluing panel near the edge of the sidepanel, and in such a position than when the glue lap is folded againstthe side panel connected to the gluing panel, the embossments will bebeneath the glue lap. In FIG. 6, embossments are shown near the edge ateach side of the side panel connected to the gluing panel, on thereverse face thereof, located so that the vertical center line of theembossments is situated at a position that will be essentially directlybeneath (or in line with) the vertical center line of the glue lap whenthe latter is folded against such side panel in the sealing operation.In FIG.

ceeds in the same manner.

It is to beunderstood that the thrust of the instant invention isdirectly principally to the embossments which may be located in eitherthe glue lap or the side panel connected to the gluing panel. In eithercase the same purpose is served. The embossments can be in the form of astar, a square, a crescent, or whatever, but it is preferred that sharpangles should be avoided as such have a tendency to cut and warp thecarton material. Consequently, the preferred shape of the embossmentscan be that of a circle, or any geometric form departing therefromranging to that of an elongated-obloid. It is further to be understoodthat the embossments will generally take the shape of the bosses whichare applied to the carton blank to form such embossments, and alhoughnot to be considered as a precise definition, the shape of the bossesdetermine the shapeof the debossments and the corresponding oppositelysituated embossments. Furthermore, whereas it has been specified thatthe embossments should be raised above the flat surface of the glue lapor carton panel by from about 0.008 to about 0.012 inch, as a generalcondition it will be appropriate to provide for a somewhat deeperdebossment than the corresponding oppositely situated embossmentproduced thereby. This is a necessity because of the slight compressionof the carton material that occurs simultaneously with the formation ofthe embossments which are the heart of this invention.

It will be readily recognized that any protuberance from the surface ofthe reverse face of the glue lap, or side panel connected to the gluingpanel located so as to be beneath the glue lap when the sealingoperation takes place will serve the same purpose as the embossmentsdescribed herein. For example, thin coins of a suitable material can beattached to the reverse face of the glue lap or side panel connected tothe gluing panel and such are included in the scope of this invention.Other variations coming within the scope of the invention can beillustrated by the employment of one embossment essentially extendingfrom near one edge of one side of the glue lap, or side panel connectedto the gluing panel to near the edge at the other side. Where arelatively narrow glue lap is to be attached to a gluing panel of acarton of any size; particularly a small container, one protuberancewill suffice. Moreover, one of the thin coins specified above can formthe protuberance, and can be single or multilayered.

In any event, a single protuberance, or two apparently independentprotuberances connected in any way, will be understood to be within thespirit and scope of the instant invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a glued carton the improvement comprising embossments closelyadjacent to but spaced from the edge at each side of the glue lap on theface opposite the face of the glue lap on which glue is applied.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the embossments are shaped asdescribed by the geometric form of a circle. a

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the embossments are raised fromabout 0.008 to about 0.012 inch above the flat surface of the glue lap.

4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the embossments are from aboutone-eighth to about one-half the width of said glue lap.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the horizontal center line of theembossments is from about 0.250 to about 0.750 inch from the edge of theside of the glue lap.

6. The improvement of claim 4 wherein the embossments occupy aboutone-third of the width of the glue lap.

7. In a glued carton the improvement comprising embossments closelyadjacent to but spaced from the edge at each side of the side panelconnected to the gluing panel, on the face of the side panel oppositethe face continuous with the face of the glue lap on which glue isapplied, located so that the vertical center line of the embossments issituated at a position that will be essentially directly beneath (or inline with) the vertical center line of the glue lap when the latter isfolded against such side panel in the sealing operation.

8. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the embossments are shaped asdescribed by the geometric form of a circle.

9. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the embossments are raised fromabout 0.008 to about 0.012 inch above the flat surface of the sidepanel.

10. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the embossments have a long axiswhich is from about one-eighth to about one-half the length of the gluelap.

11. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the horizontal center line of theembossments is situated from about 0.250 to about 0.750 inch from theedge of the side of the side panel.

12. The improvement of claim 10 wherein the embossments have a long axisequal to about one-third of the length of the glue lap.

13. The improvement of claim l wherein the embossments are shaped asdescribed by the geometric form of an elongated obloid.

14. The improvement of claim 5 wherein the horizontal center line of theembossments is about 0.375 inch from the edge of the side of the gluelap.

. 15. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the embossments are shaped asdescribed by the geometric form of an elongated obloid.

16. The improvement of claim 11 wherein the horizontal center line ofthe embossments is about 0.500

inch from the edge of the side of the side panel.

l III

1. In a glued carton the improvement comprising embossments closelyadjacent to but spaced from the edge at each side of the glue lap on theface opposite the face of the glue lap on which glue is applied.
 2. Theimprovement of claim 1 wherein the embossments are shaped as describedby the geometric form of a circle.
 3. The improvement of claim 1 whereinthe embossments are raised from about 0.008 to about 0.012 inch abovethe flat surface of the glue lap.
 4. The improvement of claim 1 whereinthe embossments are from about one-eighth to about one-half the width ofsaid glue lap.
 5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the horizontalcenter line of the embossments is from about 0.250 to about 0.750 inchfrom the edge of the side of the glue lap.
 6. The improvement of claim 4wherein the embossments occupy about one-third of tHe width of the gluelap.
 7. In a glued carton the improvement comprising embossments closelyadjacent to but spaced from the edge at each side of the side panelconnected to the gluing panel, on the face of the side panel oppositethe face continuous with the face of the glue lap on which glue isapplied, located so that the vertical center line of the embossments issituated at a position that will be essentially directly beneath (or inline with) the vertical center line of the glue lap when the latter isfolded against such side panel in the sealing operation.
 8. Theimprovement of claim 7 wherein the embossments are shaped as describedby the geometric form of a circle.
 9. The improvement of claim 1 whereinthe embossments are raised from about 0.008 to about 0.012 inch abovethe flat surface of the side panel.
 10. The improvement of claim 1wherein the embossments have a long axis which is from about one-eighthto about one-half the length of the glue lap.
 11. The improvement ofclaim 1 wherein the horizontal center line of the embossments issituated from about 0.250 to about 0.750 inch from the edge of the sideof the side panel.
 12. The improvement of claim 10 wherein theembossments have a long axis equal to about one-third of the length ofthe glue lap.
 13. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the embossments areshaped as described by the geometric form of an elongated obloid. 14.The improvement of claim 5 wherein the horizontal center line of theembossments is about 0.375 inch from the edge of the side of the gluelap.
 15. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the embossments are shapedas described by the geometric form of an elongated obloid.
 16. Theimprovement of claim 11 wherein the horizontal center line of theembossments is about 0.500 inch from the edge of the side of the sidepanel.